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Belfast Lord Mayor celebrates Belfast’s diversity and the contribution of asylum seekers and refugees living in the city

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Date: 14 Jun 2021

Category: Supporting communities


Lord Mayor Councillor Kate Nicholl

Belfast City Council is hosting a free programme of online events during Refugee Week (14 – 21 June) to pay tribute to asylum seekers and refugees living in the city.

Funded by The Executive Office, and part of the council’s Good Relations programme of work, the DiverseCity events offer opportunities to explore the diversity of communities that reside in Belfast.

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Kate Nicholl explains: “Our DiverseCity events provide opportunities for people to hear from the many communities that call Belfast home.  

“We’re also marking Refugee Week which reminds us of the tragic fact that more than 60 million people have had to leave their homes because of war and persecution and embark on perilous journeys to build new lives elsewhere. Belfast belongs to all of us – and my hope for those who’ve been granted protection here is that they find the safety and support they need to rebuild their lives.

“Our community, voluntary and faith organisations provide incredible support for refugees and asylum seekers, helping them to integrate in the city. As a council, we’ve made a commitment in the Belfast Agenda to create a city where we all enjoy a better quality of life and have the opportunity to contribute to and participate in its success. And each of us has a role to play in showing kindness and helping people to feel welcome, at home, and truly part of our city.”

Events during the week will explore the reasons for displacement, journeys made by refugees, the cultural adjustment process that people may face in their new country - and how culture can affect our own and others’ behaviour.

The DiverseCity events programme is available at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events. To book, email goodrelations@belfastcity.gov.uk 

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